Just got my FIX S90 in my hands some obesrvation

[ozziworld]

I finally brought home my FIX S90 housing and started getting familiar with various aspects of the housing and camera as a unit.

A few things I noted after spending more time with the unit.

I noted that the rails on the screen window are a little occluded by the rails that I assume are for a shroud of some sort. Can this be removed without compromising water tightness? It certainly looks like it since it is simply screwed down to the acrylic panel. I wanted to put a screen protector (the simple sheet ones that go typical LCD screens on various gadgets) on as well.

Another, thing I noticed is the finger groove in front and the thumb recess just do not suit my hands. Does anyone have the same issue? I have average size hands and think gloved or bigger hands would find the position of fingers and thumb somewhat uncomfortable.

I am also experiencing some slipping on the rear wheel (I did the ''friction fix" of adding a shim behind the wheel cover since the wheel was so loose on the S90 - I had to remove the shim to restore S90's original looseness) Rear wheel works fine now. The Mode Wheel control was also slipping till I learned to press down slightly why turning. Seems this is the way it was intended so not a big issue at all.

Love the size and weight. tight precision fit.

Buttons seem stiffer than I like but I guess it is necessary for the 200 ft. rating.

I wish the thread cove on the port was threaded on. It comes off too easily I think. Will probably use an inner tube or some other material to protect the threaded port.

The main o-ring feels very thin since I am more familiar with the fatter o-rings of other brand housings. To remove/replace them when cleaning and greasing might wear them out faster? or is this just me worrying about a non-issue?

The tight fit makes the S90 harder to remove. Takes quite a bit of shaking and bumping to get the little S90 out of the snug fitting housing. Was thinking of including a little suction cup in my kit to help lift out the unit from the housing.

I have not decided on an adapter yet (67,, or AD mount) will go back to the store again to check for vignetting with Inon UFL165AD. It seem minimal yesterday when I was at the shop trying out the combination.

I find the shutter operation a little too sensitive since I guess the lever adds some mechanical advantage. I think that is easy enough to get used to. I find at this stage I have a little better trigger control if I place my index finger right at the joint between the camera and lever. I then "roll" my finger and fire the trigger as I apply more pressure. Works pretty well so far and might end up shooting that way.

I wish they had cut or engraved the symbols for the control labels instead of just a sticker on the top pf the housing.

Have mixed feelings about the very visible "tool marks" all over the camera. I like that it reminds me or emphasizes that it is a "machined" precision tool. but I think they can also be kinda ugly and looks unfinished.

The FIX AD Adapter costs almost as much as my Canon DC35 housing. I feel that does not make sense to me.

Hopefully, I can make-up my mind soon and decide which method I want to take to get the Inon UFL165Ad on the housing and get some pics to post.

 

[Nemrod]

With so many complaints you should return it and get something different. You will never be satisfied I don't think

The rails can be removed, they are for a rubber sun screen which I have and use.

The housing fits my hands perfectly but of course, I use it on a tray with strobes and lenses.

The tool marks are typical of CNC mills, I have seem more on housings costing much more and I like it and find it attractive and helpful to the grip.

The plastic port cover is in my opinion a throwaway item as either my FIX67mm port kit or the 52mm FIX adapter remain in place all the time.

My rear ring works perfect, could not be better.

The buttons are stiff so that they do not depress at 60 feet like the Canon OEM housings do.

I remove the camera by tapping it on my palm, easy as can be.

The sticker instead of engraving, I never look at the sticker so I would not look at engraved lettering either but that would be a nice improvement.

Any way, good luck, better consider returning it while you can since it is an expenisve item to not be satisfied with.

N

 

[ozziworld]

Oh No! Never my intention to offend anyone.

I don't mean to make it sound like I am bitching about the unit. These were observations that I felt worth sharing. Can they be overcome? Well of course they can and generally they are minor issues and not enough to walk away from the rest of the benefits. They are not deal breakers for me at all.

I felt all the good things have already been covered on other threads.

It was just that these were aspects of the housing that have never been brought up in other threads. Maybe because they were non-issues and not worth posting about.

Like everything else, we take the good with the bad and make our decisions accordingly.

I decided it was the housing I wanted and purchased the unit. Nemrod, thank you for all your inputs, you have been very generous with your time and advise on this particular housing and camera. Your posts and advise actually played a big role in my decision to buy the FIX S90

 

[Nemrod]

Oh No! Never my intention to offend anyone.

I don't mean to make it sound like I am bitching about the unit. These were observations that I felt worth sharing. Can they be overcome? Well of course they can and generally they are minor issues and not enough to walk away from the rest of the benefits. They are not deal breakers for me at all.

I felt all the good things have already been covered on other threads.

It was just that these were aspects of the housing that have never been brought up in other threads. Maybe because they were non-issues and not worth posting about.

Like everything else, we take the good with the bad and make our decisions accordingly.

I decided it was the housing I wanted and purchased the unit. Nemrod, thank you for all your inputs, you have been very generous with your time and advise on this particular housing and camera. Your posts and advise actually played a big role in my decision to buy the FIX S90

Hey, no worries about offending me if that is what you mean, sorry. I have a direct way of speaking sometimes (that occasionally gets me in trouble ), I apologize if it sounded wrong.

But, what I am saying is that if you don't like something that is expensive and you have a myriad of issues with it that will pick away at your enjoyment of the item, I would send it back and get the DC35.

On the O ring, I shouldn't see it being a problem of any sort since it is similar to the ones used in other FIX housings and we have not had a bunch of G series people complaining about flooded FIX housings. However, I do miss the ability to do a visual "peace of mind" check so I am extra careful to make sure the O ring and surfaces are clean and properly lubricated. I also pay careful attention to closing the door smoothly and I "feel" for any irregularity.

It is always a good precaution to have several spares especially when you are on that "important" trip you have been saving for etc.

You make some excellent points, the housing port design is my main one, they should have allowed for removable ports for one thing and second in any case, I would have preferred that the lens adapter kits bayonet on to the port rather than thread and if they are going to thread can I please have some decent threads of a size that will inspire confidence. Another is that the decidedly overpriced lens adapter kits are mostly an engineering type nylon material rather than aluminum, for 70 dollars I expect nylon, for 200 dollars I expect aluminum.

BTW, the unannounced, mostly unknown FIX straight 52mm adapter is aluminum and anodized. And, it cost under 50 dollars. I have one for my recently ordered Fisheye UWL-04 lens.

Another real issue is that it would be nice if Fisheye/FIX would use a few colored buttons on their housings or a Braille dot or two so you can feel or see where you are on the controls in the heat of battle. Good thing that the primary interface is the control rings and not the buttons.

Nothing will ever be perfect for all users, limited production items like these housings have to be made in a way that is efficient, we wonder why they did this or that, for example, leaving the tool cutting path marks, aside from the fact that some people will find it visually attractive those who don't will have to realize that every pass back through the mill is more dollars out of your pocket or an end point price that no customer would be willing to pay. These are machined housings, be proud of that, and that they are not extruded or cast acrylic and yes, it shows. :cool2:

Oh, one other thing, it seems underwater photography is an addictive, consuming, expenisve "sport" so just up front, prepare to spend money.

N

 

[ozziworld]

Yes ! Underwater Photography is an expensive hobby added on to another already expensive sport (scuba).

Good thing I am no longer so prone to "gear lust" with the Scuba gear. Have been diving pretty much the same kit for the last 22 years except for the addition of a new dive computer 2 years ago.

It is the uwphotography stuff that is now the source of ''gear lust" I am experiencing. I just hope I don't end up on the dslr side, That would start cutting into my diving budget as well and I don't want to find myself with more uwphoto gear and less budget to dive

On the FIX S90 Housing, I will most likely end up with the 28AD adapter and will try to have a copy machined out of Aluminum. Might end up same cost as the original in plastic and will just keep the plastic one as a back-up.

For the main o-ring ( I have one extra spare), How often do you remove/lube/replace? Have you experienced stretching ? I tend to just remove/lube/replace before each dive day with visual inspections in between dives. I may have to reconsider that regimen with the FIX S90 without the visual as a confidence boost.

 

[Nemrod]

For the main o-ring ( I have one extra spare), How often do you remove/lube/replace? Have you experienced stretching ? I tend to just remove/lube/replace before each dive day with visual inspections in between dives. I may have to reconsider that regimen with the FIX S90 without the visual as a confidence boost.

I remove after use, clean it and the housing sealing surfaces and store the O ring inside the housing. I lube and again clean the sealing surfaces before installation and every time the housing is opened.

No, it does not seem to stretch, ask me again next year, lol. But then again, next year it will get a new O ring and this one will go in the trash.

N

 

[Onewolf]

I finally brought home my FIX S90 housing and started getting familiar with various aspects of the housing and camera as a unit.

A few things I noted after spending more time with the unit.

I noted that the rails on the screen window are a little occluded by the rails that I assume are for a shroud of some sort. Can this be removed without compromising water tightness? It certainly looks like it since it is simply screwed down to the acrylic panel. I wanted to put a screen protector (the simple sheet ones that go typical LCD screens on various gadgets) on as well.

...snip...

Those plastic rail mounts are also on the FIX G10 housing. As you suggested, they are for mounting an LCD screen view light blocking thing-a-ma-jiggy. I removed them from our two FIX G10 housings and we have had no problems whatsoever. Removing them provides a MUCH better view of the LCD when looking downward at the LCD (which happens A LOT underwater!).

 

[ozziworld]

I removed the rails and it makes for a much better view of the screen. will keep it this way for the meantime.

 

[Nemrod]

FIX90 housing with optional sunshade installed:

Useful for surface photography in bright conditions and shallow water.

N

 

[girellator]

Where did you find the sunshade Nemrod ? ?? Please